Hammel, 31, is a free agent after this season; Samardzija, 29, is one after next season. He will be arbitration eligible for the third time after this season, and is making $5.35 million this year. Samardzija is 10th in the NL in ERA at 2.83. Hammel has a 2.98 ERA.

There is nothing subtle about this: The A's are absolutely going for it this year after back-to-back trips to the Division Series that ended with losses to Detroit. In the Billy Beane era, the club has been to the postseason seven times and advanced to the ALCS just once.

What happens to Oakland's already excellent rotation? Brad Mills, a stopgap - and a good one, as it turned out - for Drew Pomeranz, obviously is out. Tommy Milone, Friday's starter, probably is too, but wait a second: He's 6-0 with a 2.62 ERA in his past 11 starts. He pitched six scoreless innings Friday in the A's 1-0, 12-inning win over Toronto.

Jesse Chavez has been excellent most of the season, but he has allowed nine runs his past two outings. He's likely to become the A's fifth starter.

And what happens to Pomeranz when healthy? He has had one bad outing all year, and he could be heading on a rehab assignment soon. Breaking his hand on a chair in a fit of anger definitely put him in the doghouse, though.

The A's lose Straily, who had been their top option at Triple-A Sacramento if needed, but with this move, they'd have (probably) Milone, Pomeranz and possibly Mills (if he clears waivers) and Jeff Francis (ditto) available there. That's a major difference in depth.

Oakland might opt to deal one of those starters who now comes out of the rotation for a second-base upgrade, because that is next on the A's World-Series-or-bust shopping list.

Another question to ponder: What do the A's do at shortstop next year without Russell, their 2012 first-round pick? Jed Lowrie is a free agent. Andy Parrino, a good fielder, has not hit at the big-league level, nor a whole lot in the minors. Jake Elmore is more of a utility player. Decent all-around shortstops cost a ton on the free-agent market. Perhaps if the A's have the success they envision as a result of this deal, they will have more money to spend on a top shortstop.

Or maybe this points toward an extension for Lowrie, and this wouldn't be a bad time to do it: His offensive numbers have dipped this year (while his defensive metrics have risen) and the A's have the best record in baseball. A decent offer seems as if it might make sense for both sides.

What they get

Two starting pitchers from the Cubs, including Jeff Samardzija, who was expected to draw a lot of interest at the trade deadline. Jason Hammel has a lower profile but nearly identical stats and a better record:

Name

Record

ERA

IP

SO-BB

Samardzija

2-7

2.83

108.0

103-31

Hammel

8-5

2.98

108.2

104-23

What they lose

Two top prospects in shortstop Addison Russell and outfielder Billy McKinney, pitcher Dan Straily, who won 10 games for the A's last year, and cash or a player to be named.